Country music star Kenny Rogers has responded to rumors that he’s dying after being admitted to the hospital.
On Friday, May 31, representatives for the 80-year-old musician issued a statement on his behalf to correct “wild misinformation” that he was near death’s door.
“Due to recent wild misinformation and speculation from several media outlets, we are issuing the following statement on behalf of Kenny Rogers,” his representatives wrote in the statement.
“Kenny was recently admitted to a local Georgia hospital and treated for dehydration,” the statement reads. “He will remain there to complete some physical therapy to get his strength back prior to discharge. He appreciates the concern and well wishes he has received from his fans and can assure everyone he plans on sticking around through the years to come.”
After a music career spanning six decades, Rogers planned to retire after an all-star show in Nashville in 2017, according to Billboard.
“This will be our last time on stage–forever. It will be worthwhile to come and see that,” Rogers said before the concert.
However, he still had performances scheduled in 2018, some of which were cancelled after he reportedly suffered from a “series of health issues.”
His publicist told People magazine in April 2018, “His doctors fully expect the outcome to be great, but they have advised him to cancel all performances through the end of the year to focus on recuperation.”
“I didn’t want to take forever to retire,” the Country Music Hall of Famer in an interview with People. “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to say farewell to the fans over the course of the past two years on ‘The Gambler’s Last Deal’ tour.”
Rogers also addressed his health concerns at the time.
“I’m sure I will miss it,” he said about touring. “I swore that I would do this until I embarrassed myself. … I’m getting to where I don’t walk around well. My mobility is really driving me crazy.”
According to his official tour website, Rogers has 24 number-one hits, is a six-time CMA Awards winner, Country Music Hall of Famer, three-time Grammy Award winner, and a recipient of the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2013 CMAs.
After decades of entertaining, Rogers came to the conclusion that while touring and making new music is important, “family is more important at this stage in his career,” according to his biography on his official website.
“I’ve been so lucky to have enjoyed such a long career and to have such amazing support from my fans and all who have helped me along the way, but there comes a time when I need to focus on spending time with my family,” he said.
“My life is about my wife and my 11-year-old twin boys right now. There are a lot of things I want to do together with them to create some special memories,” he added. “I don’t have a bucket list of my own. … I have a bucket list of things I want to do with them.”
